and very disapointed by the GBPA's statement.
I have lived in Gettysburg for almost ten years now and own a local business, so this is an issue that affects me.
This town is already becoming a bit too much like a carnival. We are overrun with ghost tours, paranormal "experts", and things that trivialize the town's history. Many locals (people born and raised here) seem to forget that if two armies hadn't plopped themselves here for three days in 1863 that Gettysburg would be another Biglersville or Littlestown. Anyone planning to visit those places for vacation?
We seem to be headed more towards an atmosphere like Niagra Falls with haunted houses and Believe-it-or-not musuems. I have nothing against fun; we could use more "fun" things to do around here. I would like to see Gettysburg embrace it's history morelike Williamsburg does (I've lived there too). Williamsburg has serious and entertaining history programs and also fun non-history things for the family outside the historic district. You can't take the kids to a casino.
We have a unique draw for tourists. Let another town in Pennsylvania have the casino (there are several other places trying for the same licence).
I have lived in Gettysburg for almost ten years now and own a local business, so this is an issue that affects me.
This town is already becoming a bit too much like a carnival. We are overrun with ghost tours, paranormal "experts", and things that trivialize the town's history. Many locals (people born and raised here) seem to forget that if two armies hadn't plopped themselves here for three days in 1863 that Gettysburg would be another Biglersville or Littlestown. Anyone planning to visit those places for vacation?
We seem to be headed more towards an atmosphere like Niagra Falls with haunted houses and Believe-it-or-not musuems. I have nothing against fun; we could use more "fun" things to do around here. I would like to see Gettysburg embrace it's history morelike Williamsburg does (I've lived there too). Williamsburg has serious and entertaining history programs and also fun non-history things for the family outside the historic district. You can't take the kids to a casino.
We have a unique draw for tourists. Let another town in Pennsylvania have the casino (there are several other places trying for the same licence).
It's always tricky to find that line between good taste commercial ventures and seedy garbage that demeans a memorial, but it doesn't really seem like "War Memorial Casino" merits much argument. I don't know why most people visit battlefields, but for my own part, I've never finished touring one and thought "Wow, what I want to do now is play some blackjack!"
I guess scale's a factor, trying to look at these things, there's always something tacky at even the most solemn locations but unless they're planning a small gaming hall with a couple one-armed bandits and card tables it represent a sort of jump over the good taste event horizon, which I wouldn't favor even if I believed it would bring in a lot of money, which their track record of doing isn't exactly superb. I live in a tourist town myself, and it's been kicked around without much favor, but our's is not by any means solemn. By and large I'm pretty open to casinos in places, but I don't think national memorials or kid-centered theme parks are either particularly appropriate locations, and frankly I'm astounded anyone on the casinos end would assume they would be.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
Preservation group backs Gettysburg casino
- 17/08/2010 09:35:29 PM
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I was shocked
- 17/08/2010 10:15:19 PM
474 Views
Re: I was shocked
- 17/08/2010 10:55:32 PM
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I visited Gettysburg probably like 5 years ago
- 17/08/2010 10:41:57 PM
391 Views
It all depends a little on the details... but my first impression is negative, yeah.
- 18/08/2010 12:15:51 AM
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I toured Gettysburg with Professor James McPherson a few years ago.....
- 18/08/2010 03:33:45 AM
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